Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Melcher Dallas, IA

Melcher Dallas, IA is in USDA zone 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 19.

Melcher Dallas on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 20
First frostOct 19
Growing season180 days

5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Melcher Dallas, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season180 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Knoxville, IA, elevation 896 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Melcher Dallas

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 19) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 50062 came on Mar 15 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in Iowa

473 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Iowa, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 77

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 191

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 136

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblue grama1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Melcher Dallas, IA.

Soil in Melcher Dallas, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 50062 is Grundy — silty clay loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3.3%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Grundy silty clay loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 50062; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Melcher Dallas, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,279base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 FebMarch: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.61 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 1.80 in precipitation 1.8 NovDecember: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Knoxville, IA (10 mi away); precipitation: Knoxville, IA (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Melcher Dallas

500625b
−15 to −10 °F
501635b
−15 to −10 °F

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about Melcher Dallas

What planting zone is Melcher Dallas, IA?

Melcher Dallas, IA is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Melcher Dallas, IA?

The median last spring frost is April 20 and the median first fall frost is October 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Knoxville station).

When can I plant a garden in Melcher Dallas, IA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 9 – Mar 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Melcher Dallas, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Melcher Dallas, IA get?

About 37.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).